Blackford County Biography Ref. Page

FRANK SMILEY. The leading general mercantile house of Matthews was established in that vicinity by Frank Smiley twenty-five years ago, and Mr. Smiley has employed the sound principles of commercial integrity and industry in effecting a result which classifies him among the substantial and prosperous citizens of Grant county. He started out in the drug business in New Cumberland, now known as "Old Town" and is so called to designate the older part of the little city of Matthews. Mr. Smiley moved his enterprise to the new town of Matthews, when that village was started in 1891, and here became a general merchant on Massachusetts Avenue. His business there has been conducted for more than twenty years, and with marked success. In 1910, Mr. Smiley moved his establishment to a new location near the corner of Seventy Street on Massachusetts Avenue, and there occupies a well arranged store, twenty-two by eighty feet in ground dimensions, and his stock is always fresh and selected with a view to supplying all the wants of the large and prosperous community about Matthews. Mr. Smiley has been one of the leading men in his community for many years and was the first postmaster of Matthews, serving a long period in that office.

Frank Smiley was born in Jefferson township of Grant county, August 5, 1861. His parents were Jonas and Lavina (Mullen) Smiley. The father, who was born and reared in Darke county, Ohio, was a young man when he took up his residence in Grant county, was married here, and thereafter followed farming in Jefferson township until his death at the age of forty-seven. With farming he combined the trade of carpentry, and while during his youth he had no educational advantages, he was always regarded and esteemed as a bright and intelligent man. He and his wife were Methodists in religion, and his political faith was that of the Republican party. His wife was born and reared in Grant county, and died at the old home in Jefferson township at the age of forty-two. Besides the Matthews merchant the other children were: Charles, who is an oil well man, living in Fairmount, and by his marriage to Anna Monnahan has one daughter, Lavina; Mattie Grace is the widow of Eben Coppick, and has a son Reuben and a daughter Ruth. One daughter died in childhood. Frank Smiley was about eight years old when his parents died, and he grew up and was educated in Jefferson township, started out without capital and all through his own efforts has built up a substantial business. He was married in Delaware county, this state, to Miss Minnie Millspaugh, who was born in Jefferson township of Grant county forty-four years ago, but was reared and educated in Delaware county. Her parents are William and Margaret J. (Burgess) Millspaugh, both natives of Indiana, reared and married in Grant county, and later active farmers in Washington township of Delaware county. There her father died in 1906 when sixty-two years of age, but Mrs. Millspaugh still occupies the old homestead, and is now sixty-three years of age. The Baptist was the faith of the Millspaugh family. There were five sons and three daughters, and with the exception of one son, all are living, and all are married but one. Mr. and Mrs. Smiley are the parents of one son, Russell, who was born January 19, 1891, and is still getting his education. Mr. and Mrs. Smiley are Presbyterians in religion. He is a Republican and for nine years gave an efficient administration of the duties of postmaster in Matthews.

"BLACKFORD AND GRANT COUNTIES INDIANA, A CHRONICLE OF THEIR PEOPLE PAST AND PRESENT WITH FAMILY LINEAGE AND PERSONAL MEMOIRS"; Complied Under the Editorial Supervision of BENJAMIN G. SHINN; vol. II ; THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY; CHICAGO AND NEW YORK; 1914
Submitted by:Peggy Karol and Karen Overholt

ALVIN B. HOOVER. A solid business enterprise of Matthews has a history of its own, which illustrated both the progress of the town and the career of one of its foremost citizens. This business, conducted under the name and proprietorship of Alvin B. Hoover, is a complete establishment for the supplying of hardware, wall paper, paints, with also a plumbing and tinware department, and occupies a storeroom forty-two by ninety feet in dimension at the corner of Eighth and Massachusetts Avenue. This business represents the steadily progressive labors of Mr. Hoover, over a number of years. He established a business here in March, 1911, and in April, 1913, took over the entire stock of the Hayworth Hardware Company, and is now the only dealer in general hardware and related supplies in Matthews. His business up to a few years ago, was more in a special line as a paper and painting contractor and house decorator. As a house decorator his business extends all over this section of Grant county, and also into Blackford, Madison and Delaware counties. He is himself a practical house painter and decorator, and that trade was the basis on which he has built up his present prosperous commercial enterprise.

Mr. Hoover has lived in Grant county sixteen years, and all his life has been spent in the vicinity of Matthews. He was born and reared in Washington township of Delaware county, his birth occurring January 4, 1868. His native township remained his home until he came to Matthews sixteen years ago. His parents were William and Catherine (Hoover) Hoover, his mother and father being of the same name, but not related. They were both natives of Blair county, Pennsylvania, coming of Pennsylvania Dutch stock, and previous to the Revolution members of the family lived in Virginia. William Hoover when a young man moved west to Henry county, Indiana, and there he met and married his wife, who came from the same state as he. Mrs. Hoover's parents were Peter and Margaret Hoover, and had settled in Henry county, improved a good farm, and made that their home until their death when past eighty years of age. After four children had been born in Henry county, William Hoover and wife came to Washington township in Delaware county, and there established a home on eighty acres of land. There the parents lived quiet and industrious lives until past seventy and in 1905 retired to a comfortable home in Matthews, where both are now living, and are each seventy-eight years of age, and hale and hearty. The father belongs to the Progressive Dunkard church, while his wife is a member of the Old Church of that order. His politics is Republican.

Alvin B. Hoover was one of a family of six children, named as follows: Miles L., who is a merchant at Wheeling, Indiana, and has a family; Estella, who is married and lives in Missouri; George W., cashier of the Farmers State Bank at Eton; Alvin B.; Alta, wife of Denton Tomilson, of Madison county, and the mother of three children; and Benton, who died at the age of four years.

Alvin B. Hoover was married in Gaston, to Miss Margaret Barrett, who was born in Iowa in 1874, but was reared and educated in Delaware county. By her marriage she has become the mother of two children: Twila, who died at the age of two years and five months; and Hilda B., who is thirteen years of age and attending the public schools. Mr. and Mrs. Hoover attend worship in the Methodist Episcopal church, and he is in politics a Republican, served seven years in the offices of city clerk and treasurer, and made a splendid record in administering those offices. When he went into office the city was burdened with a debt, and when he left the treasury had eight thousand dollars. Fraternally he is well known in several orders, including the Blue Lodge of Masonry, and he occupies the Masonic Building at Matthews as the site of his store. He belongs to the Wheeling Encampment of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, has taken all the chairs in the lodge and has also been honored with office in the Improved Order of Red Men.

HON. BURTNEY W. SHAFER. Over Grant county at large the name just mentioned will be most closely associated with the Democratic leader and former state senator of Jonesboro, and will recall the fact that he was a few years ago the first Democratic candidate who ever succeeded in carrying Grant county in the senatorial district comprising the trio of counties, Wells, Blackford and Grant. While Mr. Shafer did some exceedingly commendable work in the state senate, his career is notable not only for his participation in politics, but also as one of Jonesboro's substantial business men, and he has long been one of the valued factors in local affairs of that city.

Burtney W. Shafer comes of an old Virginia family. His grandfather Phillip Shafer was born in Virginia, and was descended from a Revolutionary war veteran. Phillip Shafer was married in Rockbridge county, Virginia, to Miss Margaret McCorkle, a native of that county and of the prominent Virginia family of her name. Mrs. Phillip Shafer was an aunt of former Governor McCorkle of West Virginia, and she was a descendant of Colonel McCorkle, who served with the rank of colonel on General Washington's staff during the Revolution. The McCorkles were identified with early Virginia history, and by direct right were able to display their coat of arms granted during the residence of the family in old England. Phillip Shafer and wife spent most of their lives on a farm in Rockford county, but finally moved out west and settled at Tarkio, Missouri, where Phillip died when past eighty years of age. His wife subsequently returned to her native county in Virginia, and died there when about eighty years of age. They were Presbyterians in religion and Phillip Shafer, although of old Virginian stock, was opposed to the holding of slaves. Of their children, the first was William D. Shafer, father of former Senator Shafer; Arthur, who died, left three daughters; John is married and lives in Rockford county, Virginia, having a small family. The son Emmett lives somewhere in the west, and has several children.

William D. Shafer was born in Virginia in 1847, grew up and received his education in that state, and in Rock Bridge county married Miss Nancy Ruley. She was born, reared and educated in the same county, her birth having occurred in 1846. After their marriage, they made their home in Virginia for some years, and in that state were born Burtney W., Margaret, Jennie and Esther. In 1884 the family moved to Grant county and located in Mill township on a farm. There William D. Shafer still lives and all their children were reared in that vicinity. The daughter Jennie died after her marriage to Frank B. Bourie, leaving children, May and Frank; Margaret married Harry W. Wootring, who is connected with the rubber works at Jonesboro; Esther married Professor George Carter, a son of Henry D. Carter, a sketch of which family appears elsewhere in this work. Professor George Carter is at the head of the department of manual training in the schools of Port Arthur, Texas, and they have one daughter, Margaret. Mr. Shafer's first wife, the mother of Senator Shafer, died in the early nineties and William D. Shafer in 1898 married Mrs. Lida E. Willson.

Burtney W. Shafer grew up in a time in which the inspiring influence was the mother, a highly educated and cultured woman, who afforded her children many advantages which schools could not supply. The local high school gave him an adequate literary training for business purposes, and he early engaged in brick mason work, and subsequently became a brick contractor, which is his principal business at the present time. He also clerked for some time, and has had a thorough business experience and as a workman at a trade has a ready appreciation of all phases of the labor situation. In recent years, he has done a large and successful business in the higher grades of brick work, chiefly in decorative and chimney construction. Mr. Shafer has had his home about Jonesboro ever since 1884, with the exception of about eight years, during which he was on the road as a journeyman brick mason.

He was married in Grant county to Miss Myrtle Allison, who was born in Bartholomew county, Indiana, in 1874, was educated in the city of Columbus, Indiana, and to her marriage with Mr. Shafer has been born one daughter, Helen Margaret, born November 22, 1902, and now attending the Jonesboro city schools. Mrs. Shafer is a member of the Methodist church.

Mr. Shafer has been one of the working leaders in the Democratic party in Grant county since 1889, has served as delegate to county and state conventions, and is regarded as one of the most astute organizers and managers in this section of the state. In 1906 he consented to become a candidate for the state senate, and as already mentioned was the first Democrat elected from this district who ever succeeded in carrying Grant county. While in the senate Mr. Shafer was assigned to membership on several important committees, but his most conspicuous service was done in the committee on labor, and his part in shaping legislation which came from that committee or was referred to it, was of such impartial and fair-minded character as to call forth the hearty commendation of laboring people all over the state, and was also indorsed by the regular press and political organization. Mr. Shafer has been appointed postmaster at Jonesboro by President Wilson. Mr. Shafer took his first degrees in Masonry in Jonesboro Lodge No. 109, F. & A. M., in 1890, and is a past master of the lodge and has been prominent both in that order and in the Knights of Pythias, which he has served as chancellor and for ten years as a member of the Granc Lodge. He is also a member of the Charter Lodge of the Order of Neptune at Marion.

WALTER C. KEEGHLER. A very gratifying kind of success has been that of Walter C. Keeghler, the proprietor of the well appointed department store of Matthews, carrying everything in stock which the public wants, from high grade pianos to needles and pins, including dry goods, groceries, all kinds of household supplies, queensware, brassware, and a full stock of five and ten cents goods, supplying the demands of both the country and town trade. Mr. Keeghler possessed a certain native ability in trade, otherwise he could hardly have made his record. He started out as a clerk, and with the experience and training thus acquired, finally borrowed a thousand dollars, and ventured on his own account. In a few years he had cleared up his indebtedness, and now has one of the best paying mercantile concerns in Grant county. Mr. Keeghler has been in business in Matthews since August, 1906, his location being at the corner of Massachusetts Avenue and Ninth Street. His store is forty-four by one hundred feet in dimension, and there is also a warehouse twenty-two by one hundred feet, while he is owner of a vacant lot adjoining his place of business. Mr. Keeghler also owns an attractive residence on Seventh Street, with three and a half lots of ground, a combined frame and cement structure, with a stone verandah, and all the modern improvements. Mr. Keeghler had several years experience as a clerk before starting out on his own account, and during that time was employed by his brother-in-law, I. E. Powell, a merchant then at Matthews and now at Coffeyville, Kansas. In this way Mr. Keeghler learned the details of business, and then by his own efforts paid back the first thousand dollars he had borrowed and since that time his stock has been free from debt, and he has prospered steadily. Walter C. Keeghler was born at Half Acre Corner, in Wabash county, Indiana, October 9, 1870. He was reared and educated in and about Urbana, and worked at various occupations in several states before coming to Matthews in 1899. His parents were Oscar and Mary J. (Richardson) Keeghler. His father was a son of Henry Keeghler, of German parentage, and was five years old when brought to Wabash county, Indiana, by his widowed mother. Oscar Keeghler's mother died in Wabash county, and he himself lived there as a farmer, and died when still a young man at the age of thirty-two. His widow then married Joseph S. Sellers, and they both now reside in Long Beach, California.

Walter C. Keeghler was the only son, and the oldest of the family, his sisters being: Myrtle, wife of Mr. Powell of Coffeyville, Kansas, and the mother of two daughters; Drexel and Artemisia; and Clara Fleming, of Long Beach, California, and the mother of two sons, James and John.

Mr. Keeghler was married at Converse, in Miami county, Indiana, to Miss Inez N. Ross. She was born in Richland township of Grant county, November 22, 1871, but was reared and educated in Miami county, near Converse. To their marriage has been born one daughter, Gretchen, on October 28, 1891. Her education was acquired in the city high schools, and for several years she has assisted her father as clerk in the store. Mr. Keeghler's family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. He is one of the vigorous Republicans in his section of Grant county, and a worker for good government and local improvement in every direction. He is also connected with several fraternal orders. He is treasurer and trustee of the local Matthews Lodge, F. & A. M., is affiliated with the Red Men of Matthews; belongs to the council and chapter of the Masonic bodies at Hartford City, and has affiliations with the Knights of Pythias and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Converse.

WILLIAM MILLER. A life of quiet effectiveness marked by a record of many duties well done, and many responsibilities faithfully fulfilled was that of the late William Miller, who died at his home in Matthews, January 19, 1913. Outside of his service in the Civil war, where he made a record for coolness and bravery, he was never in the conspicuous activities of abnormal events, but in the faithful and intelligent performance of every task allotted to him during his long life, he left a record which may well be envied and admired by the generations to follow him.

William Miller was born in Clermont county, Ohio, October 6, 1836, and was in his seventy-seventh year when death came to him. His parents were Daniel and Mary (Chapman) Miller. His father was a native of Ohio, and of German ancestry, and his mother was born in Kentucky of English stock. Daniel Miller and wife were married in Clermont county, Ohio, and there their careers began and all their children were born. About the time the Civil war broke out they moved to Indiana, and bought and located on eighty acres of land, located two and a half miles south of Muncie on the Middletown Pike. That was their home until 1871. Like many dwellers in the middle states, they were attracted by the high sounding promises of western lands, and moved out to Montgomery county, Kansas, buying a half section there. Their residence and activity as farmers in Kansas was brief, since the grasshopper scourge and the drought soon compelled them to abandon their enterprise and return to a more hopeful country. Thus in 1873 they reestablished their homes in Delaware county, and finally traded their three hundred and twenty acres of Kansas land for eighty-four acres in Washington township of Delaware county. There Daniel Miller died when seventy-three years of age. His wife had passed away some years previously when sixty-seven years old. They were good citizens, prominent workers in the United Brethren church, and Daniel Miller during his early manhood was a vigorous supporter of the Whig politics, and later equally strong in his advocacy of Republican principles. There were eight children. Two of them died in Ohio, four died in Indiana, and two living are. Miss Angie, who is unmarried and maker her home with Mrs. Miller at Matthews, and Mary, wife of Edward McClelland, of Muncie, and the mother of one son and one daughter.

William Miller, who was the oldest in the family of children, was reared in the home of his parents, and lived on the old farm in Clermont county, until the breaking out of the war. Then in May, 1862, he enlisted in Company C of the Second Ohio Volunteer Infantry, going in as a private and saw nearly three years of active service before his honorable discharge. He participated in the second battle of Bull Run, and later was in the armies under Sherman and other leaders and fought in the battle of Lookout Mountain, and many other engagements of the campaign. Much of his military experience was as driver of an ammunition wagon, and at the battle of Lookout Mountain he had a very narrow escape. His wagon in going up an incline road was stalled between two trees and was exposed to a crossfire, while the bullets were flying fast from both directions, he never flinched and stayed by the wagon until an orderly rode up and directed him to cut loose his mules and make a hasty escape. After the war he returned and rejoined his family, who in the meantime had taken up their residence in Delaware county, Indiana. He remained at home from 1865 until 1867, and in the latter year started out for himself and was married.

Mr. Miller married Miss Martha Pittser. Mrs. Miller, who survives her husband, and enjoys the high esteem of her neighbors in Jefferson township, was born in Henry county, Indiana, September 28, 1845, a daughter of John and Elizabeth (Stewart) Pittser. Both her father and mother were born in Brown county, Ohio, but grew up in Henry county, where they were married. John Pittser was the son of Mathias and Sarah (Jones) Pittser. Mathias Pittser, who was born in Germany, came to America in early life, married in Ohio, and during the decade of the twenties, settled as a pioneer in Henry county, Indiana, where he entered eighty acres of wild land, direct from the government, and many years of his active career were devoted to the development and improvement of that estate. It was finally made a good home, and continued to be the residence of Mathias and wife until they were both about threescore and ten years of age, at which time death came and removed them from the scenes of useful work and enjoyment. They were Methodist Protestants in religion. On her mother's side, Mrs. Miller is likewise related to pioneers in Henry county, Indiana, and the Stewart family has an ancestry which goes back to Scotland, and to the ancient clan of Stuarts, including the noted Mary Queen of Scots. Mrs. Miller's maternal grandparents, William and Margaret Stewart, built and established a home in Henry county, during the pioneer epoch, and lived there until a ripe old age. They were both members of the Christian church.

After their marriage, William Miller and wife took up their careers as farmers, and spent two years in Kansas, during 1871-73. There they experienced a share in the disasters already mentioned, and returned with other members of the family to Delaware county. Their home was on a farm in Delaware county until 1905, when they retired, and selected a home situated on five lots of land at the corner of Massachusetts Avenue and Fourth Street in the village of Matthews. There Mrs. Miller still lives, and she is also owner of the farm of forty-two acres in Delaware county. Mrs. Miller is a fine type of the old-fashioned woman, a true lady, and possessed of the graces and the courtesies of the heart and mind which are so characteristic of the older generation.

Mrs. Miller is the mother of the following children: Lillian, who died in infancy; Ida, who died May 20, 1902, unmarried, and who for fifteen years was a successful educator in Delaware county, being a graduate of Fairmount Academy and the Terre Haute Normal School. Arthur, who was born May 13, 1877, was educated in the public schools, and in Valparaiso University, now operates his mother's farm in Delaware county. Arthur Miller married Miss Myrtle Carmin of Delaware county, and they have four children�Ralph William, Walter I., Myra N., and Helen C. Mrs. Miller and family are members of the Christian church, and her husband was also a communicant in the same faith. His politics was Republican, and his son Arthur follows in the same political line.

Deb Murray